Welcome to the Seattle Smith Cove Park Project

The Friends of Smith Cove Park (FoSCP) established a committee of community members/park users in 2014. The committee’s purpose was to work with design firm, the Berger Partnership; in engaging the community while creating a conceptual plan for the park which encouraged community building and multiple uses of the park. Throughout, the FoSCP and volunteers undertook an exhaustive outreach program to continually update, engage and listen to the needs of everyone who cares about Smith Cove Park.

Now, in 2016, the FoSCP are actively supporting Seattle Parks and Recreation, and Parks’ landscape architectural firm, Gustafson Guthrie Nichol (GGN), in the development of this great waterfront park! Subscribe to www.SeattleSmithCovePark.org for updates or contact FoSCP through the website about meetings, etc. New members are always welcome!

Final Conceptual Plan

We have had some nice (summer) days playing at Smith Cove this season, with fantastic views and clear reminders of our working waterfront. But now that we’re into fall, there’s also been some pretty muddy and stinky days (players still smiling!) We play at Smith Cove (west parcel) almost every weekend starting August through Thanksgiving, while interest and walking/bicycle traffic to the eastern parcel and park (KC CSO location) drops off to nearly zero as the weather turns. Bringing more Seattle neighborhood families during the soccer season will introduce Smith Cove to many more users.

A shout out to our Parks Department field crews for making the best for our players out of these conditions!

Thank you all for your continued interest and support with youth athletics!

Coach Roy, Magnolia Soccer Club (coach and board member) and Friends of Smith Cove committee member

Future Smith Cove Park became a reality in 2013 after decades of work by Magnolia, Queen Anne and Interbay residents. This was a cooperative effort by community members, King County Council, Seattle City Council and the Port of Seattle.

The park now includes the former Pier 91 West Yard (lower east parcel), the youth soccer/athletic playfields (lower west parcel) and the Ursula Judkins Viewpoint (upper parcel by the Magnolia Bridge). Tremendous views of Puget Sound, Mt. Rainier, Seattle’s skyline, Elliott Bay Marina, cruise/fishing ships and more are within easy access via bicycle, on foot or by car.

The future Smith Cove Park is slated to become a signature park of Seattle and a true regional destination, thanks to Seattle voters (2014). Proposition One was approved, creating a Seattle Parks District in which the Smith Cove Park (lower parcels) is a dedicated-fund line item, so long-term funding, beginning in 2017 is now assured.

King County’s Wastewater Treatment Division is developing a Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) facility on the lower east parcel of Smith Cove Park. WTD is . . . “committed to developing our CSO facility in a manner that maximizes compatibility and integration with the future City park. . . we want a final product that will fit into the overall park design and surroundings. “

Community-based planning at an early opportunity through the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods Matching Funds will provide a basis for discussions (earlier than 2017) regarding the new Smith Cove Park planning process. Funds will be used to hire a landscape architect, hold public meetings, and develop a conceptual plan for the park. This plan will be based on a desire of the community to see more people engaged in activities at this waterfront park while maintaining the park’s unique connection to the waterfront and strengthening its neighborhood connections. Area residents and stakeholders will be actively engaged so that the plan reflects the desires of the community for this waterfront park.

The Steering Committee of the Friends of Smith Cove Park is gearing up to implement our Neighborhood Matching Fund award by finding and hiring the best professional landscape architect for this job. This qualified professional will shepherd the process of a conceptual design for Smith Cove Park with LOTS of community involvement and input!